Big Isle granted anti-'ice' funding

HILO » Hawaii County police will receive $443,405 from the Justice Department's Community Oriented Policing Services program to fight crystal methamphetamine, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono announced yesterday.

The sum is just short of the maximum of $450,000 that can be given to a jurisdiction, Hirono said.

Since 2006 more than $2.4 million have been granted throughout Hawaii to fight "ice," Inouye said.

Inouye noted that he has been working with Mayor Harry Kim to fight ice since Kim's election in 2000.

The money will be used for prevention and treatment of ice use, as well as for law enforcement, he said.

Hearings set on Stryker impact

The Army will hold five public hearings on its draft environmental impact statement of the stationing of the Stryker Combat Brigade at Schofield Barracks.

The environmental report analyzes basing options for the brigade, including leaving it in the islands or moving it to Alaska or Colorado.

All the hearings will begin at 5:30 p.m. Comments will be limited to three to four minutes.

Maui astronomy facility on view

The first open house held by the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy on Maui will be from 6 to 8 tonight at its new building, the Maikalani Advanced Technology Research Center.

Institute for Astronomy Director Rolf-Peter Kudritzki said the new facility "is necessary to support our work on Haleakala in solar astronomy and now the Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope, which is just beginning its work."

Jeff Kuhn, IFA associate director for Maui, said the new building "brings laboratory capabilities to Maui that we've never had before. It strengthens the already blossoming academic technical partnerships in astronomy."

The facility has laboratory workspace for microfabrication, advanced meteorology and development of optical/infrared sensors and remote sensing instruments.

The open house will feature laboratory tours and demonstrations, talks on latest solar discoveries and high-tech careers for students, stargazing through telescopes and a chance to ask questions of the scientists.

Flags to lower for ex-Kauai mayor

Gov. Linda Lingle ordered state flags at state and county buildings to be flown at half-staff tomorrow from sunrise to sunset in honor of former Kauai County Mayor Eduardo E. Malapit, who died Aug. 27.

Malapit, the first Filipino mayor in the United States, served as Kauai mayor from 1974-1982.

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff

Fugitive is caught in Honolulu

A 47-year-old accused child molester who evaded authorities in Washington state for more than a year was arrested Wednesday in Honolulu.

On March 7, 2006, Frank Goodnight of Pierce County, Wash., failed to appear at a hearing regarding charges of child molestation of a 13-year-old girl. Pierce County sheriffs contacted the U.S. Marshals Service in Tacoma for assistance.

Tips led them to Honolulu, where they asked the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force for help. Agents tracked Goodnight to a homeless shelter in the city. He was booked into a Honolulu Police Department cell block while he awaits extradition hearings back to Washington state.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Surfer found dead at Big Isle break
A 58-year-old surfer was found floating face down yesterday in waters off Isaac Hale Beach Park in Pohoiki on the Big Island.

The Hawaii County Fire Department said the man's death might have been a drowning.

Fire personnel were called at 11:42 a.m. yesterday and arrived at 11:57 a.m. at the Pahoa district beach.

Bystanders told fire rescue personnel that the man had last been seen surfing.

Surfers and lifeguards brought him to shore, fire officials said.

LEEWARD OAHU

4 are saved after dive boat capsizes
A fire crew rescued two of four boaters whose dive boat overturned yesterday in Makaha.

The four men were aboard a 17-foot recreational dive boat about 50 to 100 yards off Lahilahi Point when the vessel was swamped by waves and overturned, said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

The men were unable to right the boat, and people on the beach called for help.

When fire personnel arrived, two of the men had already swum to shore. The other two were brought in by a fire rescue boat, Seelig said.

One man suffered minor injuries to his leg and was treated by Emergency Medical Services personnel at the scene.

WAIKIKI

Police said that at about 11:35 p.m., the cabdriver, a 39-year-old man, picked up the suspect, who later asked to be driven to an automated teller machine.

Police said the man was driven to several ATMs but was unable to retrieve cash from any of them. The suspect then allegedly tried to jump out of the cab on Kuhio Avenue. The driver tried to stop him but was allegedly punched several times.

Police nearby saw the commotion and arrested the suspect on suspicion of second-degree robbery. The victim was not seriously injured.

HONOLULU

Woman arrested with stolen ID
Police arrested a 35-year-old woman who allegedly tried to open a bank account using someone else's ID.

Police said that at about 3 p.m. Wednesday the woman tried to open the account at an Ala Moana bank. Police said the woman had a check that was stolen in a burglary, and used an ID reported stolen in a separate car break-in case.

Police said the suspect tried to flee the bank but was later arrested on suspicion of second-degree forgery, second- and third-degree identity theft and two counts of unauthorized possession of personal information.